Brides are footing the wedding bill

Fathers fretting about footing the bill for their daughter's dream wedding, worry no more. The tradition has all but disappeared.

Researchers have found that 80 per cent of couples pay for their own weddings, taking the pressure off their parents.

And with the average white wedding costing £17,000 from engagement ring to honeymoon, the father of the bride has had a lucky escape.

He would traditionally have been expected to take on £11,000 of the debt. But today, just 3 per cent of fathers cover the cost of the wedding, a survey shows.

Seventeen per cent of couples borrow to pay for their big day, sometimes on credit cards. Total wedding spending this year in Britain will reach £23billion, according to the research.

Given that four in ten will end in heartbreak and divorce, at least £9.2billion of this figure appears to represent the triumph of romance over reality.

But we are obviously a nation of romantics at heart. Six in ten believe in love at first sight, the researchers found, while as many as a million would propose immediately if they found 'the one'.

The survey suggests the reason more couples are paying for their own marriages is because they are pushing back their wedding day until they are older.

A recent study found that more than half of brides were over 30. The average age at which women marry has risen by more than three years in less than a decade. It now stands at 30 years and seven months.

And the rising age profile means engaged couples are more likely to be financially independent, living together in their own home. Consequently, they are far more likely to take over the running and financing of their big day.

£17,000 price tag

However, the £17,000 wedding price tag is way above the figure many planning to marry expect.

The survey, carried out by Alliance & Leicester, found many believe the average figure would be just £6,650.

It also found the average engagement lasts nine months. "It is encouraging to see that many of us are still old romantics who believe in love at first sight," said Alliance & Leicester spokesman Claire Alvey.

"But as the cost of a modern wedding continues to rise, it is understandable that romance can take a back seat while we try to save towards the cost of the wedding.

"Weddings need very careful planning. By looking around to get the best value from your borrowing - like you would for the wedding flowers or the photographer - you can make huge savings."

Carol Richardson, from wedding planners Confetti.co.uk, said: "The key to a successful wedding ceremony is planning, planning and then more planning.

"Shop around, talk to all your suppliers and get a realistic idea of costs for every aspect of your day - from the flowers to the cake and the photographer."